Adjustable door-fastening device



Feb. 14, 1928.

fl. C. FARLEY ADJUSTABLE OOR FASTENING DEVICE `Filed 00?.. 15. 1926 Patented eb. 14, i928.

tra sra'rss Jenn o. Yinin-naY, or ornLiira, ALABAMA.

ADJUSTABLE DOOR-FASTENING DEVICE.

Application led Gotober 13. 1926. Serial No. 141,328.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable door fastening devices, particularly adapted for use in connection with refrigerator doors or the like.

An object of this :invention is to provide a` door fastening device which may be adjusted in order to obtain an eflicient closing efectof the door in relation to the refrigerator boa or otherwise. i

Another object of this'invention is to provide in a door fastening device resilient means for closing the door with any desired degree of force depending upon the amount of potential energy in the resilient member and the degree to which the potential energy of the resilient member has been subjected by means of a suitable wing mit or otherwise.

A further object of this invention isto provide a door fastening device in which the ordinary wearing effect on the different parts will be eliminated, at the same time will function to produce an etiicient closure effect.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a door fastening ydevice comprising a minimum number oi elements, means for securely combining these elements together in order to form an etlicient and inexpensive door fastener in which the diiferent parts will cooperate without loss of eiiiciency due to the frictional wearing between the eleh ments7 a disadvantage which is a `common occurrence in the fastening devices of the type now in use, particularly in connection with refrigerators and other like devices.

Other objects ofr thisinvention will appear in the following detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the single sheet of drawings which is herewith made a part of this application.

ln the drawings Fig. l illustrates a vertical sectional view of the door fastening device, disclosing the elements in released assembled relationship.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional l'elevational view of the fastening device in latched posit-ion.

Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional View of Fig. l, taken along line 3mi/l. 1

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view of Fig. 3, taken along line dif-4. f

F ig. 5 illustrates a. perspective view of the fastening device in interlocked relationship. i

lig. 6 illust-rates a perspective view of the portion of the fastening deviceJJ disclosing a modification of `this invention pertaining to acontact element.

Numeral l designates a container such as a refrigerator' bei; or otherwise7 adapted 'to have attached thereto a door 2 of the type common to ice boxes or refrigerators. -F astened to the door 2 in a suitable location is a bracket element 3 adapted to have pivoted or otherwise connected thereto a cani portion l either integrally connect-ed or detachably` connected to an operating handle v5. The cam 4 and operating handle 5 may be pivotally attached to the bracket 3 by means of a pivot pin 6 or otherwise.

Suitably fastened toy the refrigerator box l or other foi-motif container is a base plate which may be fastened to the boX l by means of fastening elements 8. Extending from and suitably fastened within the base plate if' are guide members 9, and a spindle l0. rlhe guideinembers 9 are adapted to extend through openings in a suitably formed grooved keeper portion ll, the spindle being adapted tol entend downwardly from the keeper element ll a suitable distance in orderto allow for a Wingnut l2 to cooperate with the spindle at this outer end, the outer end of the spindle l() and the wing nut to be properly threaded. The keeper element ll is provided with a hollow portion 13 of suiiieient capacity to allow `for `the movement thereinof a `resilient. tension kdevice lei in the forni of a spring device. The base of the spring `tension device llt Will function to rest on a shoulder l5 forlnedinf tegrally 'from the keeper element ll at the base of the opening lathe outer end of the opening 13 will be formed to allow freedom of movement to the wing nut l2.

Extending from the keeper element ll'is a suitably formed lug lo which is adapted to cooperate with the cani elem-ent 4 in such a. manner that when the operating handle 5 is brought downward, the cam Ll will cooperate with the lug 1G in such aL manner as to force the keeper element 1l and the tension spring 14 rearwardly to an'ertent as disclosed at 17 depending upon the amount of tension placed upon the spring by the wing nut 12, thereby functioning to produce a firm and eilicient closure between the door and the refrigerator box.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of this invention, particularly in the form of the cam element, which may be integrally a part of the operating handle 5 or a detachably connected roller member 1S, which may be rotatively connected to the handle portion 5 by means of pivoting pins 19.

In operation this invention provides a door fastening means which may be adjusted :l'or various degrees ot force between the door and container or refrigerator boX. When it is desired to interlock or fasten the elements together, it is merely necessary to operate the handle 5 in the usual manner and adjust the Wing nut l2 for the desired degree of power or ressure to be exerted against the door for closure purposes.

lVhile specific embodiments ot this invention `are shown herein, it is to be understood that changes and alterations may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the scope of the invention as de lined herein.

What I claim is:

l. A keeper construction tor maintaining a door and container in close relationship under tension, consisting of a plurality ot sections, one section being fixed to the con tainer, the other sections being adjustably connected to the xed section, a counterbore in one of the adjustably connected sections, a resilient member in the counterbore, and adjustable means for bringing the resilient member under tension between the fixed section and the adjustably connected section.

2. A keeper construction for maintaining a door and container in close relationship under tension, consisting of a plurality of sections, one section being iixed to the container, the other sections being adjustably connected to the fixed section, a eounterbore in one of the adjustably connected sections, a resilient member in the counter-bore, and adjustable means for bringing the resilient member under tension between the fixed section and the adjustably connected section,

the counterbored section having a suitable latch lug extending therefrom for cooperat ing with a door element.

3. A keeper' construction for maintaining a door and container in close relationship under tension, consisting of a plurality of sections, one section being lixcd to the container, the other sections being adjustably connected to the fixed section, a countcrbore in one of the adjustably connected sections, a resilient member in the countcrbore, and adjustable means for bringing the resilient member under tension between the fixed scction and the adjustably connected section, the counterbored section having a suitable latch lug extending therefrom tor cooperating with a door element, the tension ine-ans comprising a coil spring within the counterbore slidably mounted on a spindle.

4. A keeper construction tor maintaining a door and container in close relationship under tension, consisting of a plurality of sections, one section being lined to the conv tainer, the other section being adjustably connected to the fixed section, a counter-bore in one ot' the adj ustably connected sections, a resilient member in the counterbore, and adjustable means tor bringing the resilient member under tension between the fixed scction and the adjustably connected section, the ceunterbored section having a suitable latchlug extending therefrom for cooperating with a door element, the tension means comprising a coil spring Within the counten bore slidably mounted on a spindle, one end of which extends in inter-locked relationship with the iixed section, the other end being threaded for receiving a tension adjusting element adapted tor varying the tension on the resilient member thereby functioning to maintain a close relationship between the latch lug and the cooperating element on the door.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

JOHN o. raster,

Sii 

